ფორმალისტები და ისტორიული რომანი (ვიქტორ შკლოვსკის „ისტორიული რომანისა და იური ტინიანოვის შესახებ“ მაგალითზე)

Abstract

Genesis and transformation law of historic novels have been researchers’ subjects of interest for a long time. It is very important to discuss the formalists’ standpoint towards historic novels. One of the most prominent representatives of the formalist school, Yuri Tynyanov wrote the historic novel “The Death of Vazir-Mukhtar”, which was published in 1928. According to K. Chukovsky, “his (Tynyanov’s) knowledge was exceptional. He knew the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as if he lived during this epoch.” According to Tynyanov, the writer who writes historic novels must learn historic documents completely and must grasp the life of the hero thoroughly. In 1933, one of the most prominent representatives of the formalist school, Victor Shklovsky, published the article “About Historic Novel and Yuri Tynyanov”. There are a few important details in the article, which are linked to the historical reality of Georgia. It is noteworthy to mention that before writing the article, Shlovsky travelled in Georgia and his impressions are expressed in different essays. According to Victor Shlovsky, on the travel map of Vazir-Mukhtar, he recognized Persia, Russia but not Georgia”. Victor Shlovsky knows well the biography of Alexander Chavchavadze and notices, that A. Griboedov needed reliable supporters in Georgia and he chose a strong Chavchavadze family. The publication of the novel “The Death of Vazir-Mukhtar” was critically acclaimed in Georgia. Nino Tabidze’s memories are invaluable material for further research. Shklovsky’s opinions and remarks regarding this novel are discussed in the paper.